Dozens of flights to and from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas have been canceled, and it’s causing a major issue for Las Vegas tourism.
This is in line with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plan to enforce a phased reduction of air traffic operations amid the current federal government shutdown. In light of this, tourism on the Las Vegas Strip is facing turbulence.
Why Las Vegas Flights Are Being Canceled
The FAA this week issued an order for airlines to reduce domestic flight operations by 4 % starting Friday. The plan also includes increasing the cut by 10% by mid-November, as part of a safety response to staffing shortages in air traffic control. Among the 40 high-volume U.S. airports included in the directive was Harry Reid International. The airport logged 19 cancelled departures and 22 cancelled arrivals as of 10:15 a.m. on Friday. Dozens more flights were delayed.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized that the cutbacks are not a political move. According to People.com, he shared that it was instead a proactive measure to keep air travel safe, as controllers continue to work without pay.
“We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford also revealed. Airport officials confirmed the reduction order. However, they stated that LAS had not been notified in advance of the directive and would continue normal operations for now.
Las Vegas Flight Cancellations Threaten Tourism Recovery
Las Vegas has already been coping with declining tourism numbers. Visitor arrivals are down 8.8 % year-over-year, according to Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority data. Convention attendance has also dropped by nearly 19%. The flight cancellations add a new level of risk for the tourism-dependent economy of the city.
With fewer direct flights and increasing disruptions, potential visitors may opt for alternative destinations or postpone their travel. Hotel and resort operators were already facing pressure as room rates and resort fees climbed amid inflation. Furthermore, cross-border travel from Canada declined earlier in the year due to geopolitical and economic tensions. The latest air-travel setback could further dampen the holiday season, as Las Vegas typically relies on an upswing in visitor traffic.
What’s Happening With Las Vegas and Air Travel
The FAA regularly slows or stops flights from taking off toward an airport for several reasons, including weather, equipment failures, and technical issues. However, staffing shortages can also cause significant disruptions. This is if there aren’t enough air traffic controllers. and other facilities cannot absorb the added workload.
Last weekend saw some of the worst staffing shortages since the shutdown began, which officially became the longest in U.S. history early Wednesday. Between Friday and Sunday evening, at least 39 different air traffic control facilities reported potential staffing limitations. This number, likely an undercount, far exceeds the average for weekends before the shutdown.
The ongoing shortage shows the strain the system is facing as controllers work without pay. If the government shutdown persists, the possibility of more flights being canceled or delayed could extend beyond Las Vegas, affecting tourism.
